Self-propelled vehicle-truck.



No. 856,242. PATENTED JUNE 11, 1907,.

R. FULLER.

SELF PROPELLED VEHICLE TRUCK.

APPLICATION FILED JULYZ, 1606.

3 SHEETS-SHEET li VJ T NiiSSES PATENTBD JUNE 11 1902 R, WEBER. SELF PROPELLED vEHmLE TRUCK.

s SHEETS-SHEET '2.

anniomrolw nun JULY 2, was.

ATTORNEYS No. 856342. PATENTBD JUNE 11, 1907. R. FULLER, SELF PEQPELLED VEHIGLE TRUCK.

APPLIUATION FILED mum. 190s.

' a SHEBTSSHBET ay which the wheels are secured.

SELF 'PRQPELLEE JEHESLE TlQUQK:

Specification of Lcirters istont.

' Eetentod time l1, M307.

Application filed July 2, ZQDB, fierial lilo. 324,397-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, RonoLrHUs FULLER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self Propelled Vehicle lrucks, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to self propelled trucks for vehicles particularly designed for the transportation of merchandise and other heavy articles upon streets and the object is to provide an electrically propelled truck particularly suitable for a vehicle of this charact-er and to this end my invention is embodied ina two-wheeled truck carrying its own electric motor in drive connection with both wheels, all so arranged that by the mere addition or omission of a fifth wheel it is suitable for front or rear truck eaclrtruck forming 8t wholly independent driving unit without any mechanical driving connection with prime motor, thus leaving the size and form of the platform and the disposition of the prime motor factors which can be varied within wide limits, all as will appear more fully hereinafter. I

In the drawings which accompany this specification my improved: truck is shown specifically as a front truck wherein;

Figures 1 and 2 are plan views thereof with certain parts in each figure broken away to bring underlying parts into view; Fig. 3, is a sectional side elevation; Fig l, is a crosssection of Fig. substantially in the plane iL'"-.T of Fig. 2; Fig. 5, is a sectional plan of the motor drive mechanism.

In the drawings A is the front end of a suitable platform, B and C are respectively the upper and lower circle of a lifth wheel, l) is the king pin pivotally conncctin; the members of idle lifth wheel together, i) are the springs supporting the lower member of the lifth Wheel. 1* are the journal boxes upon which the springs are mounted. G are the wheels, ll are the spindles forming the drive axle. to

l is an electric motor and J is the compensating gear transmitting the power from the motor to the wheels. l\ is the steering sector and l..- is the steering pinion engaging therewith, all those parts being of well known construction and operation except as more fully hereinafter (le scribed.

The "upper circle of the fifth wheel is secured directly to the'under side of the platform which latter is preferably made to extend out over the front truck and is preferably designed to carry thereon the prime mover and the controlling mechanism. A ball bearing is formed between the two circles, the balls of which travel in a circular groove a formed in the under side of the upper circle and bear upon a plain upper face of the lower circle thereby keeping the balls clean from dirt or dust.

The king pin D is hollow, it is removably secured in the upper circle and has a collarb formed at its lower end. The lower circle is inte rally cast with four radially extending brac rets portions 0 which support this circle upon the ends of the springs by means of interposed stirrups (i into which, the ends of the springs loosely engage while the opposite ends are pivotally secured therein, the stirrups being pivotally supported in eyes f formed in the ends of the brackets c.

The steering sector is of the form of a half circle interiorly geared and is secured upon the two forward brackets c and. upon additional brackets g g and It also formed on the lower circle, thebraclrets 9 being provided with sto s i to limit the sweep of the steering pinion.

The compensating gear is of known construction and inclosed within a two-part steel chsing formed with hubs in which the inner ends of the drive spindles are suitably journailed. To the opposite sides of this gear crying are secured the axle sleeve members M which loosely inclose the live spindles and N are flanged collars secured to their outer ends or integrally formed thereon andhaving a pivotal connection with the journal-boxes F, said connection beiin preferably made by journaling the ollar in an imvard extension of the journal box. and retaining it therein by means of the flange 1' engaging into a corresponding groove in the journal box. The gear casing is further connected with the collar N by tie rods O thus uniting the ports to gether to form a trussed axle sleeve for supporting the weight while at the some time lOO journal boxes is free to rock independently thereof.

The electric motor is inclosed within an outer dust proof casing and is supported in 1 position by means of suitable brackets 2 (5 extending from the casing oi the motor torwurdly and secured by clnm 'iing coilnrs r formed at the ends of said brackets to the axle member on one side of the gear rinsing. l Anothcr bmclret l" extends renrwurdly and is pivotzillyconnected to thelower end of Pt, hanger rod 9 which passes through a guide bracket 11 extending reurward from thei lower circle and supportedv thereon by a, spring interposed between the hanger and l bracket, :1 similar check spring j being placed 1 upon the inmgor beneath the bracket and held under tension by the screw nuts j. j

The motor shaft extends into on enlnrgemont formed in the gear casing and is suitably jonrnnled therein and carries the motor pinion is oil in a manner to make the 1110* tor independently dctnchaibie. The enhirge: ment of the gear insing also incloses on intermediate sluil't which carries the gear wheels I Z the former meshing with the. motor pinion and the bitter with the drive whecl oi the compensating gonr, which itlti'OI is of known construction.

The motor shaft curries upon it in on open interval between the motor casing and the gear casing a brake wheel in czu'rving the. usual brake strnp or. operated by nbrnlrc icver n which pivotnll mounted upon a. bracket 1 extending from the genr casing. An actuating connection connects this bruhe lever with the usual toot lover (not shown) in proximitv to the operators sent and this connection pnsscs through the hollow king bolt in it very direct mnnncr since by a judicious distribution of the ports in locnting the motor to one side of the central longitndinni plane and tho (mmpcnsnting gem and easing upon the other side the brake Wheel is in a centrzii longitudinal plane with the weightoi' the drive meeluinism equally distributed on both sides oi the central plane. 'ihc hollow king bolt is in iiice. manner used to i'orm tho elcctrieni connection with the motor and it is quite obvious thnt it n mechanical broke would not be. admissible :1 solenoid moytnkc its place.

/Vith the obvious omission of the fifth wheel the construij-tion described nppiies to the rear truck as welt, and the platform will be supported directly upon the springs and the. hanger g tor the motor wili be correspisu ngl suspended from the plnti'orm.

My construction is adapted to many kinds oi vehicles where great trzictive power is required, it provides whoiiy independent driv ing units for the front and rear truc undo the intermediate portion thereof between the j l snag/m2 ing the sizcnnd shape of the. platform, location and nrrsngenwnt. of pruno motorund other inctors wholiy optional within wide limits to suit the. peculiar use. to winch the vehieie is to be put. As it front truck it per nuts turmngthc velucio almost within its own length thus making it especniily applicable for hauling merchandise through crowded thoroughfares and loading and unlonding the some on depot platforms and wore houses.

liuving thus fully described my invention what I claim i.,. I

1. in it truck for electrically propelled vehicic, the combination of u divided driving axle having drive wheels secured thereon, journal boxes carrying the supporting springs of the truck, a differential. gear having it gem casing n'ovided with laterally extending axle sleeve members, connections unit.- iug said members with the journal boxes and permitting relative rotation between them, an electric motor adjacent to one of the axle sleeve members and having its (using secured tl ueto, means yieldingly suspenih ing the casing of the motor upon its further side from at suitable port rzirried by the springs of the truck, and :1 journal bearing formed in an enlargement of the gear cnsing adjacent to one end of the motor and into which said motor shul't projects.

2. in a truck for electrically propelled Vehicle, the combination o" n diii'erentinlly driven driving uxle ezuryii'ig the drive wheels, journal boxes thereon carrying the support-- ing springs oi the truck, :1 (using inclosing the diflerentiul gear and having luternliy ex tending nxle sleeve-momhers, pivotnl connections uniting the journal boxes to the outer ends of snid members and permitting relative rotation between them, an electric motor adjacent to one of said nxlc sleeve members, comiectii'ms dctmhnbly securing the motor to said member, at suspension devicc yiel'dingly sus 'iending the motor upon its opposite side from it part of the truck or vehicle supported by the springs of the true-la, an enlargement on the gear casing iormod with a bearing inhiwhich one end of the motor shaft projects und intermedinte drive gear inelosed within the enlargement of the gear cursing.

3. in n truck For electrically propelled vehicie, tho combination of n divided driving zi-xlc ciirrying the two wheels of the truck, journni boxes thereon carrying the support ing springs of the truck, n difl'erentinl gear,

n casing therefor having laterally extending nxle sleeve members journnled at their outer endsin hearings in the inner ends of the jouruni boxes nnd held against endwisc dispineement, said members positioning the gonr casing to one side of the center of the truck, on electric motor located adjacent to scenes axle carrying the two wheels of the truck,

journal boxes thereon carr ing the supporting springs olithe truck, a ifi'erential gear, a casing therefor having laterally extending axle sleeve members journaled at their outer ends in the inner ends of the journal boxes and endwise united thereto, said members being of a relative length to position the gear casing to one side of the center of the truck, an electric motor located adjacent to the axle sleeve member on the opposite side of the center and in rigid supporting connection with said member, a suspension device yieldingly supporting the motor on the side far thest from the axle from a part of the truck or vehicle supported by the springs of the truck. a bearing formed in an enlargement of the gear casing adjacent to'the motor and into which the motor shaft extends, intermediate gear between the motor shaft and the differential gear inclosed in said -enlargement, and a brake device carried by the motor shaft between said enlargement and the casingof the motor.

5. in a truck for electrically propelled vehicle, the combination of a divided driving axle carrying the two wheels of the truck, journal boxes thereon carryin the su porting springs of the truck, a di "erentia gear having a gear casing provided with laterally extending axle sleeve members, flanged collars at the outer ends of said members journaled in hearings in the inner ends of the journal boxes and held therein against lateral dis lacement, truss rods connecting said col ars with the gear casing and forming in connection therewith and with the axle sleeve members a rigid supporting truss and an electric motor in rigid supporting connection with said truss.

6. In a truck for electrically propelled vehicle, the combination of a divided drivingaxle carrying the two wheels of the truck, j ournal boxes thereon, a differential gear located to one side of the center of the truck, a casing therefor having laterally extending axle sleeve members journaled in the inner ends of the journalboxes and held against endwise displacement therein, and an electric motor located adjacent to the axle sleeve member on the other side of the center of the truck in relation to the gear casing, an enlargement of the gear casing inclosing the intermediate drive mechanism and formed with a bearin in which the motor shaft is journaled, a rigi supportin connection between the motor and the a jacent axle sleeve member, and a suspension device yieldingly sup orting the motor from a suitable part of t e truck or vehicle carried by the springs.

7 In a front truck for electrically propelled vehicle, the combination of a driving axle carryinghthe two wheels boxes t ereon s rin s mounted u on the journal boxes, a lower circle formed with out-' wardly extending brackets, stirrups inter-- posed between the ends of the springs and the outer ends of said brackets, an upper circle formed with a ball bearing groove upon its under side, balls inter osed in said groove between the upper an i lower circle, said lower circle having a plain upper face upon of the truck, journal which the balls travel, and a hollow king circles together.

8. In a front truckfor electrically propelled vehicle, the combination of a divided drivin axle carrying the two wheels of the truck, a diiierential gear having a gear casing in which the inner ends of the driving axle are journaled, axle sleeve members extending laterally from the gear casing, journal boxes upon the driving axle at the outer ends of the axle sleeve members, connections uniting said journal boxes and the axle sleeve members endwise and permitting relative rotation between them, springs mounted upon the journal boxes, a lower circle mounted upon the springs, an upper circle supported upon the lower circle, a ball bearing between the circles, a hollow king pin pivotally uniting the circles, an electric motor adjacent to and in rigid. supporting connection with the axle sleeve member on one side of the gear casing and a suspension device yieldingly supporting the motor from the lower circle said motor having one end of its shaft expin pivotallv uniting the upper and lower tending into an enlargement of the gear cas are journalcd, axle sleeve members laterally extending from the ear casing, journal boxes upon the driving axle at the outer ends of the axle sleeve members, connections uniting the journal boxes and axle sleeve member endwise together free to permit relative rotation between them, springs mounted upon journal boxes, a lower circle formed with brackets extending outwardly therefrom over the ends IIS of the springs, stirrups inter used between iiiu ends of the, swings am brackets, an upper CiI'Ci5, a bail bearing between the two circles, a hollow king pin uniting the circles together, an eiectric motor adjacent to and in rigid supporting connection with the axle sleeve member on one side of the gear casing, a suspension device yieldingly supporting the motor from the lower circle, an enlargement on the gear casing adjacent to 0119 and of the motor and formed with a journal hear ing into which the mot/Jr sha t Drojects, intermediate drive mechanism inciosed Within said enlargement, a brake on the mumr shaft intermedizite between the gear casing, I 5

and the body of the motor-the body of the momrbeing on one aide of the %enter of the truck and the gear casing upon the other side--and braks connection extending from the brake through the hollow king .pin ii) a, 20

suitable part on Elie Vehicle platform.

In testimony whefeot I aflix mysignature in presence of two Witnesses. 

